England hopeful David Beckham admits: I wish I'd stayed at United

03 January 2010 12:22

David Beckham admits he wishes he had never left Manchester United as heprepares to head back to Old Trafford with new club AC Milan in the ChampionsLeague's last 16 in March.

Beckham says he envies former team-mate Ryan Giggs, who has stayed his wholecareer at the club while Beckham's path took him to Real Madrid then to the LosAngeles Galaxy, while he is now preparing for a second loan spell with Milan.

Beckham told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek: 'I'd have loved to have stayedat Manchester United for my whole career and never gone anywhere else but itjust wasn't meant to be.

'It takes a special person and a player to stay at a club for so many years.Ryan's been there for so many years now and he'll be part of Manchester Unitedfor life - he's a Manchester boy and it runs through his blood.

'I'm so honoured to have played with Ryan through the years I did and to knowhim as a person and a player. He deserves all the success he's had this year andin the other years."

Meanwhile, Beckham insists he is taking nothing for granted despite Englandboss Fabio Capello's assertion this week that the former captain will almostcertainly be a part of his 2010 World Cup squad.

Beckham said: 'I've never expected anything. I know I have to play quite a lotfor AC Milan. I'm prepared to do that. Everybody knows I'm prepared to work hardto be part of the England squad.

The way we were: Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson

'I've always been very positive and I've always said I want to be availablefor England whether I'm in the team or not. I'm passionate about playing for mycountry and I always want to be a part of the England squad.'

Meanwhile, Beckham hailed the influence of Fabio Capello since his appointmentas England boss and said the Italian had given an 'arrogance' to the squadahead of their World Cup campaign.

Beckham said: 'He's brought many things. He's brought arrogance, but in a goodway - the players go onto the field and they're confidence they believe they'regoing to win.

'It's not an arrogance where we think we're going to win everything, but he'sgiven us that confidence which is the biggest thing that we might not have hadin the past.

'He's brought a real seriousness to the team and a real professional sidewhich was needed. He's a person and an individual that scares you - scared in away that you really respect these managers.'

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